tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12005502.post3145948907108116679..comments2023-11-28T13:30:46.120-05:00Comments on Leonardo's Notebook By Mattheus Mei: Archbishop apologizes for giving CommunionMattheus Meihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629195495902678804noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12005502.post-44150279097893640882007-10-13T06:53:00.000-04:002007-10-13T06:53:00.000-04:00That is all well and good, and I agree totally. Th...That is all well and good, and I agree totally. <BR/><BR/>The question was one more of - have you ever known anyone to deny someone communion, priests and EME's get into such a rhythm and the assumption is 'well, they're in the line...' - How many times have non-Catholics been given the bread and cup? knowingly even? <BR/><BR/>I think the Archbishops actions reflect more upon this notion, and when he noticed them he thought about it and either concluded 1) well I'm at <I>this</I> parish, so this is normal, or 2) he was in complete shock and decided perhaps it wasn't worth the commotion to make a scene and deny these two communion, especially when the liturgy was so dignified and devout as he says in his apology. BOTH of which are not "good excuses." (And I'm not sure which 'reason' is worse)<BR/><BR/>And I think you're right, it's time for more consideration on both the parts of the laity and the presbyterate when it comes to reception.Mattheus Meihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07629195495902678804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12005502.post-46553808747166128822007-10-13T01:20:00.000-04:002007-10-13T01:20:00.000-04:00"how difficult is it to tell someone that no, you ..."how difficult is it to tell someone that no, you can't have Jesus." <BR/><BR/>But who says that someone's "having Jesus" is limited to the reception of Holy Communion, which signifies so much more than just "having" Him? He certainly is not bound by anything -- He is where two or three are gathered in His name. He is where we can barely even imagine Him to be. <BR/><BR/>Reception of Holy Communion, however, is of a different nature -- something signifying unity with His body, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, assent to her teaching, her authority, and, with trembling, to be received by one "who is not worthy," (as Peter realized when he told the Lord to leave him, after the miraculous catch of fish), who is conscious of his or her own abject dependence on God. Catholics -- those in communion with the Church -- ought not to receive lightly, or flippantly, and certainly not as perfunctorily as we might. This is all part and parcel of its being, in the words of St. Ignatius, <I>ton pharmakon anastasias</I>, the medicine of immortality.<BR/><BR/>None of this is to say that reception of Holy Communion is to be made into some kind of moral-police weapon, or a place to practice partisan politics. <BR/><BR/>It is not to be denied lightly, nor is however reception to be taken lightly either! (And, my dear friend, I know that <I>you</I> especially are keenly aware of this!)<BR/><BR/>As to what was appropriate in this case -- well, ultimately, God knows. I was disturbed by the incident more because of the nature of this particular Catholic parish, than because the good Archbishop may have been disingenuous. He's apologized. <I>In omnia caritas</I> One accepts his apology, and hopes that a lesson has been learned.Fr. Gaurav Shroff https://www.blogger.com/profile/04964314266441708310noreply@blogger.com